From c75da21e6a4c0fcd0d3aa7a444aa5bcb8719ace5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: lucaronin Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:00:12 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] content: enrich target notes Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 --- demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q1.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q2.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q3.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q4.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q1.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q2.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q3.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q4.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q1.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q2.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q3.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q4.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q1.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q2.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q3.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q4.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q1.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q2.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q3.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q4.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q1.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q2.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q3.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q4.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q1.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q2.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q3.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q4.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q1.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q2.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q3.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q4.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ 32 files changed, 448 insertions(+) diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q1.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q1.md index 9ae71071..4e7139ff 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q1.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q1.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Books Target Q1 2024 Target: 6 books in the quarter (2/month). + +The reading target is a personal development commitment that [[person-luca-rossi]] treats as seriously as the business metrics. The goal of two books per month balances depth with breadth -- enough to explore a range of topics across engineering leadership, business strategy, and personal growth without rushing through material. Q1 is typically the easiest quarter for reading, with fewer social commitments and long winter evenings. + +## Progress + +- January: completed 2 books -- "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fournier (re-read for a newsletter deep dive) and "Working in Public" by Nadia Eghbal. +- February: completed 2 books -- "Thinking in Bets" by Annie Duke and "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant" by Eric Jorgenson. +- March: completed 2 books -- "Staff Engineer" by Will Larson and "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. +- Hit the target exactly with 6 books for the quarter. + +## Notes + +- Re-reading "The Manager's Path" proved valuable -- it directly informed two newsletter editions and generated strong reader engagement. Re-reads of canonical books should be a regular practice. +- The mix of technical leadership and general non-fiction felt right. Pure business books tend to be less actionable than books that bridge engineering and leadership. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q2.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q2.md index 876f2fe2..d793a840 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q2.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q2.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Books Target Q2 2024 Target: 6 books in the quarter (2/month). + +Q2 was expected to be more challenging for reading time due to the [[24q2-hire-editor]] project consuming significant bandwidth. The 6-book target was maintained regardless, as [[person-luca-rossi]] views the reading habit as non-negotiable infrastructure for content quality. + +## Progress + +- April: completed 2 books -- "An Elegant Puzzle" by Will Larson and "Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon. +- May: completed 1 book -- "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz. The editor hiring process ate into evening reading time significantly. +- June: completed 1 book -- "Continuous Discovery Habits" by Teresa Torres. Started a second book but did not finish before quarter end. +- Finished with 4 books -- the weakest quarter of the year, missing the target by 2. + +## Notes + +- The miss was directly attributable to the editor hiring process, which involved reviewing writing samples and conducting interviews over evenings and weekends. This was a worthwhile trade-off. +- Quality over quantity: the 4 books read this quarter were all highly relevant and each generated at least one newsletter idea. Better to read fewer books well than rush through more. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q3.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q3.md index 3400d9c8..5c6e732a 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q3.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q3.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Books Target Q3 2024 Target: 6 books in the quarter (2/month). + +With the editor onboarded and the newsletter operations running more smoothly, Q3 was an opportunity to recover the reading pace. Summer travel also provided unexpected reading time -- long flights and beach days turned out to be productive for focused reading. + +## Progress + +- July: completed 3 books -- "Build" by Tony Fadell, "Obviously Awesome" by April Dunford, and "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman. The Fadell book was consumed almost entirely during a 9-hour flight. +- August: completed 2 books -- "Inspired" by Marty Cagan and "Refactoring UI" by Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger. The latter directly influenced thinking about Laputa's design system. +- September: completed 2 books -- "Engineering Management for the Rest of Us" by Sarah Drasner and "Creativity, Inc." by Ed Catmull. +- Exceeded the target with 7 books -- the best reading quarter in the tracking period. + +## Notes + +- Travel is underrated as reading time. Three of the seven books were read primarily during trips. Worth factoring this into scheduling. +- "Refactoring UI" was a standout -- it changed how [[person-luca-rossi]] thinks about the Laputa UI and led to several design decisions captured in the project spec. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q4.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q4.md index 9cb1de90..7cfee05d 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q4.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-24q4.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Books Target Q4 2024 Target: 6 books in the quarter (2/month). + +Q4 is always a demanding quarter with year-end business reviews, holiday content planning, and personal commitments. The 6-book target was maintained but [[person-luca-rossi]] expected it to be tight. The reading list leaned more heavily toward business and strategy books to inform 2025 planning. + +## Progress + +- October: completed 2 books -- "Company of One" by Paul Jarvis and "The Mom Test" by Rob Fitzpatrick. Both influenced thinking about keeping the business intentionally small. +- November: completed 2 books -- "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink and "Range" by David Epstein. +- December: completed 1 book -- "Deep Work" by Cal Newport. Holiday social obligations and year-end planning reduced reading time significantly. +- Finished with 5 books -- one short of target. + +## Notes + +- "Company of One" was particularly resonant and reinforced the decision to keep the newsletter business lean rather than hiring a full team. This philosophy carries into 2025 planning. +- Annual total: 22 books (6 + 4 + 7 + 5), averaging 5.5 per quarter. The 2/month target is aspirational but the actual pace of roughly 1.5/month is sustainable and productive. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q1.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q1.md index 687fac07..d798bb08 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q1.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q1.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Books Target Q1 2025 Target: 6 books in the quarter (2/month). + +Q1 2025 was heavily impacted by the launch push for [[25q1-laputa-v1]], which consumed most of [[person-luca-rossi]]'s evenings and weekends. The reading target was maintained at 6 books knowing it would be a stretch. The reading list was deliberately curated toward product development and systems design to support the Laputa work. + +## Progress + +- January: completed 2 books -- "Designing Data-Intensive Applications" by Martin Kleppmann (a technical deep-dive relevant to Laputa's architecture) and "Sprint" by Jake Knapp. +- February: completed 1 book -- "Shape Up" by Ryan Singer. Laputa development consumed nearly all available time outside of newsletter production. +- March: completed 1 book -- "Badass: Making Users Awesome" by Kathy Sierra. Started "Thinking, Fast and Slow" but only reached the halfway point. +- Finished with 4 books -- missing by 2, the same shortfall as Q2 2024. + +## Notes + +- The pattern is clear: quarters with major project launches (editor hiring in Q2 2024, Laputa v1 in Q1 2025) consistently produce 4-book quarters. This is acceptable as long as the reading maintains quality. +- "Shape Up" directly influenced the project management approach for Laputa. The 6-week cycle concept was adapted for the quarterly milestone structure. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q2.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q2.md index 68584f50..5058a42e 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q2.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q2.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Books Target Q2 2025 Target: 6 books in the quarter (2/month). + +With Laputa v1 shipped and the business running more smoothly, Q2 was expected to be a recovery quarter for reading. [[person-luca-rossi]] also started an informal book club with [[person-sara-ricci]] and [[person-matteo-cellini]], which provided external accountability and made it easier to stay on pace. + +## Progress + +- April: completed 2 books -- "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman (finished from Q1) and "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel. +- May: completed 3 books -- "Influence" by Robert Cialdini, "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg, and "The Art of Doing Science and Engineering" by Richard Hamming. A long weekend trip provided extended uninterrupted reading time. +- June: completed 2 books -- "Measure What Matters" by John Doerr and "The Courage to Be Disliked" by Ichiro Kishimi. +- Exceeded target with 7 books -- matching Q3 2024 as the best quarter. + +## Notes + +- The informal book club works well as an accountability mechanism. Having a discussion partner makes it easier to commit to finishing books rather than abandoning them midway. +- "Measure What Matters" directly informed a rethink of how targets and goals are structured in the personal knowledge system -- the very system that Laputa is designed to manage. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q3.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q3.md index c8947587..38674e7e 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q3.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q3.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Open --- # Books Target Q3 2025 Target: 6 books in the quarter (2/month). + +Q3 2025 should be favorable for reading, with summer travel planned and the Laputa development entering a more sustainable cadence. The reading list includes a mix of engineering culture books (for newsletter content), design books (for Laputa), and one or two fiction titles to broaden perspective. The book club with [[person-sara-ricci]] and [[person-matteo-cellini]] continues. + +## Progress + +- Quarter is in progress. July reading list includes "Empowered" by Marty Cagan and "Building a Second Brain" by Tiago Forte. +- Two international trips are planned, which historically correlate with higher reading output. +- The book club has selected "The Innovator's Dilemma" by Clayton Christensen as the group read for August. +- On track for 6 books based on current pace. + +## Notes + +- "Building a Second Brain" is particularly relevant as research for Laputa's feature set. The personal knowledge management space is heating up and understanding competing philosophies is important. +- Considering adding audiobooks to the tracking. Several "books" in previous quarters were actually consumed as audiobooks during runs, and this format enables more reading volume without additional sitting time. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q4.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q4.md index bcb74614..f1c79b95 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q4.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-books-25q4.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Open --- # Books Target Q4 2025 Target: 6 books in the quarter (2/month). + +Q4 will be the final reading quarter of the two-year tracking period. The goal is to close the year strong with at least 6 books, bringing the 2025 annual total to a projected 21-23 books. The reading list will focus on year-end reflection themes -- strategy, decision-making, and personal growth -- to inform 2026 goal-setting. + +## Progress + +- Quarter has not started yet. Preliminary reading list is being assembled. +- Planned reads include "Good Strategy Bad Strategy" by Richard Rumelt, "Antifragile" by Nassim Taleb, and at least one title recommended by the book club. +- The historical pattern suggests Q4 will land at 5 books due to holiday commitments, but aiming for 6 with the buffer of audiobooks. +- Two-year running total (if Q3 and Q4 hit targets): approximately 46 books across 8 quarters. + +## Notes + +- At this point, the reading habit is well-established and self-sustaining. The formal tracking has been valuable for maintaining accountability but may not need to continue as a formal target in 2026. +- The most impactful books over the two-year period have consistently been the ones that bridge technical and human domains. This should guide future reading list curation. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q1.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q1.md index e9fb26bc..5864179a 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q1.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q1.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Resting HR Target Q1 2024 Target: resting HR < 54 bpm. + +Resting heart rate is the primary health metric that [[person-luca-rossi]] tracks as a proxy for overall cardiovascular fitness. The Q1 2024 target of 54 bpm was set based on a late-2023 average of around 58 bpm, with the assumption that a consistent running habit (3-4 times per week) would bring it down steadily. Lower resting HR correlates strongly with better sleep quality and sustained energy throughout the workday. + +## Progress + +- January: averaged 58 bpm. Holiday indulgence and a two-week break from running over the new year period meant starting the quarter at baseline. +- February: improved to 56 bpm average as running frequency resumed to 3x/week. Added one zone 2 long run per week. +- March: ended at 57 bpm average. A mild cold in mid-March disrupted training for 10 days and caused a temporary spike to 60 bpm. +- Quarter average of 57 bpm -- missed the 54 bpm target by 3 bpm. + +## Notes + +- The 54 bpm target was likely too aggressive for Q1 given the holiday starting point. A more realistic target would have been 56 bpm, with 54 as a stretch goal. +- Illness-related setbacks are hard to plan for but have an outsized impact on HR trends. Building in recovery weeks after illness rather than trying to immediately resume full training would be beneficial. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q2.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q2.md index 8c5bc101..6c786ac1 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q2.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q2.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Resting HR Target Q2 2024 Target: resting HR < 54 bpm. + +The 54 bpm target was carried over from Q1 after missing it by 3 bpm. Spring weather made outdoor running more enjoyable and consistent, and [[person-luca-rossi]] added structured interval training to the routine based on advice from [[person-sara-ricci]], who has a background in sports science. The combination of zone 2 base building and weekly intervals was expected to drive meaningful HR improvement. + +## Progress + +- April: averaged 55 bpm as the consistent spring running routine took hold. Running 4x/week for the first time, including one interval session. +- May: dropped to 53 bpm average. The interval training appeared to have a significant impact -- two weeks of measurable improvement after introducing tempo runs. +- June: held at 53 bpm average through the month. Added a weekly cycling session as cross-training without disrupting the running schedule. +- Quarter average of 53 bpm -- hit the target with 1 bpm to spare. + +## Notes + +- This was the first health target achieved. The structured interval training was clearly the differentiator compared to Q1's pure easy-running approach. +- [[person-sara-ricci]]'s advice on the 80/20 rule (80% easy, 20% hard) for endurance training proved correct. The temptation to run hard every day is counterproductive. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q3.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q3.md index 8d3bbfde..4d38eac4 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q3.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q3.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Resting HR Target Q3 2024 Target: resting HR < 53 bpm. + +After hitting the Q2 target, the bar was raised slightly to 53 bpm. Summer presented a mixed bag for training: longer days and better weather supported outdoor activity, but travel disruptions and heat made consistent training harder. The [[24q3-podcast-season-2]] launch also added time pressure, compressing the windows available for exercise. + +## Progress + +- July: averaged 54 bpm. Summer heat forced several runs to be cut short or replaced with indoor cycling, which is less effective for HR improvement. +- August: spiked to 56 bpm average during a two-week vacation where running was inconsistent and diet was less controlled. Also coincided with the Hacker News traffic spike, which caused stress-related sleep disruption. +- September: recovered to 55 bpm as routine normalized, but could not close the gap to 53 in one month. +- Quarter average of 55 bpm -- missed the 53 bpm target by 2 bpm. + +## Notes + +- Summer travel and heat are a recurring challenge. Pre-planning hotel gym access and having a travel-friendly bodyweight routine could mitigate the vacation disruption. +- The correlation between stress (Hacker News traffic week) and elevated resting HR was striking -- roughly +3 bpm during that period. Managing stress responses is as important as the physical training. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q4.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q4.md index 43d52214..6b3c292d 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q4.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-24q4.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Resting HR Target Q4 2024 Target: resting HR < 53 bpm. + +The 53 bpm target was maintained after Q3's miss. Autumn is historically the best season for running -- cool temperatures, stable weather, and a return to routine after summer. [[person-luca-rossi]] committed to a structured 12-week training plan for the first time, targeting a half-marathon in December as a forcing function for consistent training volume. + +## Progress + +- October: averaged 53 bpm as the structured training plan began. Running 4x/week with clear purpose (easy run, tempo, intervals, long run) made the routine feel more sustainable. +- November: dropped to 51 bpm -- the lowest monthly average recorded. Peak training volume for the half-marathon preparation correlated with the best HR results. +- December: held at 51 bpm through the half-marathon (completed in 1:42) and maintained through a disciplined holiday period with only a short 5-day break. +- Quarter average of 51 bpm -- comfortably exceeded the 53 bpm target. + +## Notes + +- The half-marathon goal was a breakthrough strategy. Having a specific event to train for provided structure and motivation that abstract HR targets alone could not match. +- Closing the year at 51 bpm (down from 57-58 at the start) represents significant cardiovascular improvement. This validates the investment in consistent training over quick fixes. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q1.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q1.md index 8b9c443c..b460b787 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q1.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q1.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Resting HR Target Q1 2025 Target: resting HR < 52 bpm. + +The Q1 2025 target of 52 bpm was set as a modest step from Q4 2024's strong finish at 51 bpm. However, the [[25q1-laputa-v1]] launch consumed enormous amounts of time and mental energy, and [[person-luca-rossi]] anticipated that maintaining the Q4 training volume would be difficult. The target reflected a desire to at least not regress significantly. + +## Progress + +- January: averaged 53 bpm. Post-half-marathon recovery period plus Laputa crunch mode reduced running from 4x to 2x/week. The reduced volume was immediately visible in the HR data. +- February: worsened to 55 bpm. Laputa v1 launch stress, combined with several late-night coding sessions, disrupted sleep patterns and elevated resting HR noticeably. +- March: recovered slightly to 54 bpm as the launch settled and running frequency returned to 3x/week. Added meditation as a stress management tool. +- Quarter average of 54 bpm -- missed the 52 bpm target by 2 bpm. + +## Notes + +- This quarter confirmed that product launch periods are incompatible with fitness targets. Future planning should explicitly set lower HR targets during expected launch quarters rather than pretending normal training is possible. +- The meditation habit started in March is promising. Even 10 minutes daily seemed to help with sleep quality and stress-related HR elevation. Worth continuing as a permanent habit. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q2.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q2.md index f9a4d2a3..a950d47e 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q2.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q2.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Resting HR Target Q2 2025 Target: resting HR < 52 bpm. + +The 52 bpm target was maintained from Q1, representing a second attempt at this level. Despite the ongoing [[25q2-laputa-v2]] development work, the plan was to protect training time more aggressively by blocking morning hours for exercise before starting work. [[person-sara-ricci]] also suggested adding strength training to the routine to support overall metabolic health. + +## Progress + +- April: averaged 54 bpm. The morning exercise block worked well initially, with 4 runs per week for the first two weeks. A knee niggle in the third week forced a reduction to 2x/week plus cycling. +- May: plateaued at 55 bpm. The knee issue persisted, limiting running to easy efforts only. Strength training sessions were added (2x/week) but their HR impact takes longer to materialize. +- June: held at 55 bpm. The knee improved by mid-June and running volume gradually increased, but not enough time remained to see HR improvement within the quarter. +- Quarter average of 55 bpm -- missed the 52 bpm target by 3 bpm. + +## Notes + +- The knee issue was a reminder that injury prevention (stretching, strength work, proper warm-ups) needs to be part of the routine, not an afterthought. Running volume ramp-ups should be gradual. +- Two consecutive misses on the HR target suggest 52 bpm may not be achievable alongside the current work intensity. Re-evaluating whether 53 bpm is a more honest target for 2025. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q3.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q3.md index 460b2516..e4546919 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q3.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q3.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Open --- # Resting HR Target Q3 2025 Target: resting HR < 51 bpm. + +The 51 bpm target is aggressive given the Q2 miss, but [[person-luca-rossi]] is motivated by the knowledge that this level was achieved in Q4 2024. The strategy is to replicate the conditions that worked then: a structured training plan with a specific race goal (a 10K in September), the 80/20 training split, and daily meditation for stress management. The knee is fully recovered and strength training has become a regular part of the routine. + +## Progress + +- Quarter is in progress. July started with a 12-week structured training plan targeting the September 10K. +- Running frequency is back to 4x/week with no knee issues. Strength training continues 2x/week. +- Morning exercise blocks are protected on the calendar as non-negotiable meetings. +- Early July resting HR readings are trending around 53-54 bpm, suggesting the Q2 fitness base was not entirely lost. + +## Notes + +- The race goal strategy from Q4 2024 is being deliberately replicated. Having a concrete event to train for provides better adherence than abstract metric targets. +- [[person-sara-ricci]] recommended adding a sleep hygiene protocol (no screens after 10pm, consistent bedtime) which could be an additional lever for HR improvement beyond exercise alone. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q4.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q4.md index c99baed7..151b80d0 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q4.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-resting-hr-25q4.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Open --- # Resting HR Target Q4 2025 Target: resting HR < 51 bpm. + +The 51 bpm target is maintained for Q4, which historically has been the best quarter for fitness results (cool weather, routine stability, post-summer motivation). If Q3 delivers the expected improvement, Q4 should be about maintaining and consolidating rather than making dramatic gains. The plan includes signing up for another half-marathon in November to provide a training anchor. + +## Progress + +- Quarter has not started yet. Planning is underway. +- The second half-marathon is being researched -- ideally a late-November event to keep the training plan aligned with the quarter timeline. +- If Q3 finishes at 52-53 bpm, the path to 51 by end of Q4 is straightforward with consistent training. +- If Q3 misses significantly, the target may be revised to 52 bpm to remain realistic. + +## Notes + +- Over the two-year tracking period, resting HR has ranged from 51 bpm (Q4 2024 best) to 57 bpm (Q1 2024 start). The overall trend is positive despite periodic setbacks from illness, injury, and launch stress. +- The key insight from two years of data: consistency matters more than intensity. Quarters with 3-4 moderate sessions per week always outperform quarters with sporadic intense training. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q1.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q1.md index 2770a2e0..33b056cb 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q1.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q1.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Revenue Target Q1 2024 Target: €8,000/month MRR by end of quarter. + +This was the inaugural quarter with formal sponsorship MRR targets, aligned with the [[2024-double-revenue]] annual goal. The €8k target assumed successful completion of the [[24q1-launch-sponsorship-packages]] project, which would introduce tiered pricing and multi-month commitments to replace the ad-hoc sponsorship deals that had characterized 2023. + +## Progress + +- January carried over two legacy sponsors at roughly €2,800/month combined while the new packages were being finalized. +- The new tiered sponsorship packages launched in mid-February, generating two new sign-ups at the mid-tier (€1,200/month each) by month end. +- March brought one additional sponsor at the premium tier (€2,000/month), but a legacy sponsor churned, netting only +€800 for the month. +- Closed at €7,251 MRR -- about €750 short of the €8k target. + +## Notes + +- The new packaging structure is clearly an improvement over ad-hoc deals, but the sales cycle is longer than expected. Most sponsors need 3-4 weeks of back-and-forth before committing. +- [[person-luca-rossi]] noted that sponsors care more about audience quality (open rates, click-through) than raw subscriber count. This insight should inform how growth is messaged to potential sponsors. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q2.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q2.md index 195f4ea1..0e6a552b 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q2.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q2.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Revenue Target Q2 2024 Target: €10,000/month MRR by end of quarter. + +The €10k MRR target represented the first five-figure month, a psychological milestone for the business. The plan was to build on the new sponsorship packages launched in Q1 and begin outbound sales efforts. [[person-paco-furiani]] started helping with sponsor outreach on a part-time basis this quarter, which was expected to accelerate the pipeline. + +## Progress + +- April saw two new mid-tier sponsors close, pushing MRR to €8,900. The outbound approach was working -- both came from cold outreach by [[person-paco-furiani]]. +- May added one premium sponsor (€2,000/month) but lost a mid-tier sponsor who cited budget cuts, netting +€800 for the month. +- June was flat with minor upsells to existing sponsors adding roughly €200, bringing the total to €9,914. +- Missed the target by just €86 -- the closest near-miss of the year. + +## Notes + +- Churn is the silent killer. Gross new sales were actually ahead of plan, but losing one mid-tier sponsor in May erased most of the gains. Need to invest in sponsor retention and relationship management. +- [[person-paco-furiani]]'s outbound efforts are proving valuable. The ROI on his part-time involvement is clearly positive. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q3.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q3.md index e2806366..d5240290 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q3.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q3.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Revenue Target Q3 2024 Target: €12,000/month MRR by end of quarter. + +The €12k target required roughly €2k in net new MRR, which seemed achievable given the Q2 pipeline. However, this quarter coincided with summer seasonality, which historically affects B2B advertising budgets. The podcast revenue from [[24q3-podcast-season-2]] was expected to provide a secondary revenue stream, though podcast sponsorships were priced lower than newsletter placements. + +## Progress + +- July was soft as expected -- two sponsors paused for the summer, dropping MRR to €8,700 temporarily. One new annual deal partially offset the dip. +- August improved as paused sponsors resumed and a new premium sponsor signed a 6-month commitment, pushing MRR to €10,400. +- September brought podcast sponsorship revenue online for the first time (€800/month), but newsletter sponsor acquisition slowed as Q4 budget planning consumed potential buyers' attention. +- Closed at €11,156 MRR -- about €850 short of the €12k target. + +## Notes + +- Summer seasonality hit harder than anticipated. Future planning should assume a 10-15% MRR dip in July and price targets accordingly. +- Podcast sponsorships are a meaningful but modest revenue stream. At €800/month they contribute to diversification but will not be a primary growth driver. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q4.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q4.md index ce4d442b..62c5d07b 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q4.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-24q4.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Revenue Target Q4 2024 Target: €14,000/month MRR by end of quarter. + +The €14k target was the final push toward the [[2024-double-revenue]] annual goal. Hitting it would have required roughly €2,800 in net new MRR -- a significant jump. The plan relied on Q4 being the strongest quarter for B2B ad spend (year-end budget flushes) and closing several deals that had been in the pipeline since September. + +## Progress + +- October was the best sales month of the year: three new sponsors closed (two mid-tier, one premium), adding €3,400 in gross MRR. However, one legacy sponsor at €1,200/month churned. +- November held steady with minor upsells and one new mid-tier sponsor, pushing MRR to €12,500. +- December saw the expected year-end slowdown in new deal closings, but no churn. A small price increase on renewals added €222 to the monthly total. +- Closed at €12,722 MRR -- well short of €14k but still roughly 75% higher than the year's starting point. + +## Notes + +- The [[2024-double-revenue]] goal was not achieved (ended at ~€12.7k vs. the implied ~€14k doubling target), but the growth trajectory was strong. The revenue engine is real and repeatable. +- Churn remains the biggest headwind. Gross revenue added in 2024 was actually sufficient to hit the target, but losses from churned sponsors ate into the gains. A formal retention process is needed for 2025. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q1.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q1.md index 9ac48140..8501795b 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q1.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q1.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Revenue Target Q1 2025 Target: €15,000/month MRR by end of quarter. + +The €15k target kicked off the [[2025-reach-22k-mrr]] annual goal with an ambitious but measured first step. Key changes this quarter included introducing a formal sponsor retention program (quarterly check-ins and performance reports), raising prices by 10-15% on new deals, and adding a new "data sponsorship" tier that gave sponsors access to anonymized audience survey data. + +## Progress + +- January started strong with zero churn for the first time -- the new retention program and proactive check-ins made an immediate difference. Two new mid-tier sponsors signed up. +- February saw the data sponsorship tier close its first two deals at premium pricing (€2,500/month each), significantly accelerating MRR growth. +- March brought one more premium deal and continued zero churn, pushing MRR comfortably past the target. +- Closed at €15,569 MRR -- exceeding the target by €569. + +## Notes + +- This was the first revenue target hit since the formalization of MRR tracking. The retention program is clearly working -- zero churn in a quarter is unprecedented. +- The data sponsorship tier is a significant innovation. Sponsors are willing to pay a meaningful premium for audience insights, and it differentiates the offering from commodity newsletter ads. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q2.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q2.md index f882b705..b071d3a4 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q2.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q2.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Revenue Target Q2 2025 Target: €17,000/month MRR by end of quarter. + +The €17k target continued the steady ramp toward [[2025-reach-22k-mrr]]. With the strong Q1 result and zero churn, there was optimism that the momentum would carry. However, this quarter also saw [[person-luca-rossi]] devoting significant time to [[25q2-laputa-v2]], which reduced capacity for direct sponsor sales. [[person-paco-furiani]] took on more of the outbound sales role to compensate. + +## Progress + +- April added two new mid-tier sponsors but lost one legacy sponsor who shifted their budget to podcast-only advertising, resulting in net +€800. +- May was slower than expected with only one new deal closing, but an existing sponsor upgraded from mid-tier to the data sponsorship tier, adding €1,000/month net. +- June closed one new premium deal but the MRR gain was partially offset by a seasonal pause from a sponsor who only runs campaigns during product launch periods. +- Ended at €16,928 -- just €72 short of target. + +## Notes + +- The pattern of near-misses continues, but the revenue trajectory remains healthy. The business is consistently adding €1,500-2,000 in net MRR per quarter. +- [[person-paco-furiani]]'s expanded role in sales is working well. He closed 60% of new deals this quarter, freeing [[person-luca-rossi]] to focus on product development. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q3.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q3.md index 06a10d63..03786d19 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q3.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q3.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Open --- # Revenue Target Q3 2025 Target: €19,000/month MRR by end of quarter. + +The €19k target requires approximately €2,100 in net new MRR, which is achievable but depends on keeping churn near zero. Summer seasonality remains a risk based on past experience. The plan includes launching a self-serve sponsorship booking tool to reduce sales friction and expanding the podcast sponsorship portfolio to capture more of the audio advertising budget that sponsors are increasingly allocating. + +## Progress + +- Quarter is currently in planning. The self-serve booking tool MVP is expected to go live in early July. +- Pipeline has three warm leads in the premium tier and two in the data sponsorship tier, representing roughly €4,000/month in potential gross MRR. +- [[person-paco-furiani]] is focused on converting pipeline deals before the August slowdown historically associated with summer. +- Contingency: if summer churn repeats the 2024 pattern, the team will offer 3-month commitment discounts to at-risk sponsors proactively. + +## Notes + +- The self-serve booking tool is a bet on reducing the sales cycle from weeks to days for smaller sponsors. If it works, it could meaningfully change the growth curve. +- Reaching €19k would put the business on track for the [[2025-reach-22k-mrr]] annual goal, with only €3k of growth needed in Q4. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q4.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q4.md index 503090e3..e04cd532 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q4.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-revenue-25q4.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Open --- # Revenue Target Q4 2025 Target: €22,000/month MRR by end of quarter. + +The €22k target is the culmination of the [[2025-reach-22k-mrr]] annual goal and would represent a roughly 73% increase from the ~€12.7k MRR at the start of 2025. Q4 is historically the strongest quarter for B2B advertising budgets, so this is strategically placed. The target also assumes the self-serve booking tool is fully operational and generating incremental small-sponsor revenue. + +## Progress + +- Quarter has not started yet. Strategy planning is in progress. +- Key assumptions: Q3 delivers at least €18k MRR (allowing a €4k gap to close in Q4), the self-serve tool generates at least €1,000/month from small sponsors, and Q4 budget flush behavior delivers 2-3 new premium deals. +- [[person-paco-furiani]] is building a target list of 20 potential premium sponsors to approach in September for Q4 commitments. +- If the Laputa app launches publicly, there may be an opportunity to bundle app sponsorship with newsletter sponsorship as a premium offering. + +## Notes + +- €22k MRR would make the newsletter business comfortably profitable as a standalone operation, even after accounting for [[person-paco-furiani]]'s compensation and other operational costs. +- This target is ambitious but not unreasonable given the trajectory. The biggest risk is a repeat of 2024's churn problem, which the retention program should mitigate. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q1.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q1.md index a5814f13..91c0fc2f 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q1.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q1.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Subscribers Target Q1 2024 Target: 38,000 subscribers by end of quarter. + +This was the first quarter with a formalized subscriber growth target. After closing 2023 at roughly 34,000 subscribers, the 38k goal represented steady organic growth driven primarily by the weekly newsletter cadence and cross-promotion from the [[24q1-launch-sponsorship-packages]] work. The number was set conservatively to establish a baseline for the [[2024-reach-50k-subscribers]] annual goal. + +## Progress + +- January started slow with 34,800 subs; holiday period dampened new sign-ups and open rates dipped below 40%. +- A viral LinkedIn post in February brought roughly 1,200 new subscribers in a single week, temporarily putting the quarter ahead of pace. +- March saw higher-than-usual unsubscribes after a content pivot toward more technical deep-dives, netting only +400 for the month. +- Closed the quarter at 37,428 -- about 570 short of the 38k target. + +## Notes + +- The unsubscribe spike in March suggests the audience has a ceiling for purely technical content. Mixing in career and business angles likely retains broader appeal. +- Despite missing the number, the growth rate was still roughly 10% quarter-over-quarter, which [[person-luca-rossi]] considered acceptable for a first formal target. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q2.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q2.md index 6a8b07df..f1d9562c 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q2.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q2.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Subscribers Target Q2 2024 Target: 42,000 subscribers by end of quarter. + +Building on the Q1 miss, the 42k target assumed a rebound from the technical-content unsubscribe wave and factored in planned cross-promotions with two other indie newsletters. This quarter also coincided with the [[24q2-hire-editor]] project, which was expected to free up time for more promotional efforts and collaborations. + +## Progress + +- April saw strong growth of +1,400, partly driven by a guest post on a popular Substack that linked back to the sign-up page. +- May plateaued with only +800 net adds; the editor onboarding consumed more bandwidth than expected, reducing promotional activity. +- June recovered somewhat with +1,100 new subscribers thanks to a well-received deep dive on engineering manager compensation data. +- Final count landed at 41,701 -- just 299 short of target. + +## Notes + +- The near-miss was frustrating but showed that the growth engine is fundamentally sound. Consistency in publishing cadence matters more than any single viral hit. +- Cross-promotions yielded measurable but modest results (roughly 300-400 subs each). Worth continuing but not a primary lever. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q3.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q3.md index 2541514b..3b1fe232 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q3.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q3.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Subscribers Target Q3 2024 Target: 47,000 subscribers by end of quarter. + +The 47k target was the most ambitious quarterly jump yet, requiring roughly 5,300 net new subscribers. This coincided with [[24q3-podcast-season-2]] launching, which was expected to create a secondary acquisition channel. The broader [[2024-reach-50k-subscribers]] goal made this quarter critical -- missing it would put the annual target out of reach. + +## Progress + +- July kicked off strong with the podcast season 2 premiere driving 600 new subscribers in its first week alone from show-notes CTAs. +- August was the breakout month: a newsletter edition on "Why Senior Engineers Should Write" was shared widely on Hacker News, bringing in 2,100 new subscribers over 10 days. +- September maintained steady momentum with +1,500, supported by consistent podcast episodes and improved SEO on the archive pages. +- Closed at 47,316 -- exceeding the target by 316. + +## Notes + +- This was the first quarter the target was actually hit. The podcast proved to be a meaningful subscriber acquisition channel, validating the investment in [[24q1-podcast-season-1]]. +- The Hacker News spike showed that long-form, opinionated content outperforms how-to guides for viral growth. Worth leaning into this style more deliberately. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q4.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q4.md index 3a1ea1be..2802de54 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q4.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-24q4.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Subscribers Target Q4 2024 Target: 53,000 subscribers by end of quarter. + +The 53k target was set to push past the 50k milestone that underpinned the [[2024-reach-50k-subscribers]] annual goal. While aggressive, the momentum from Q3's strong finish and the ongoing podcast made it feel achievable. [[person-luca-rossi]] also planned a year-end "best of" series to drive re-shares. + +## Progress + +- October performed well with +1,800, carried by podcast momentum and a collaboration with a well-known engineering leader. +- November slowed to +1,200 as the pre-holiday period brought lower engagement across the board. Open rates dropped to 38%. +- December was the weakest month at +900 net adds. The "best of" series performed adequately but did not drive the viral sharing that was hoped for. +- Final count: 52,265 -- missed the 53k target by 735, but did clear the symbolic 50k mark in late November. + +## Notes + +- Passing 50,000 subscribers was a significant milestone even though the quarterly target was missed. It validated the annual goal trajectory set at the start of 2024. +- Q4 seasonality is real for B2B newsletter audiences. Future planning should bake in lower growth expectations for October-December. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q1.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q1.md index 7ba32933..b3c69677 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q1.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q1.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Behind --- # Subscribers Target Q1 2025 Target: 59,000 subscribers by end of quarter. + +With the newsletter past 52k at the start of the year, the 59k target reflected the ambitious [[2025-reach-85k-subscribers]] annual goal. This required roughly 6,700 net new subscribers in one quarter -- a step up from previous quarters. The plan leaned heavily on improved onboarding sequences to reduce early churn and new content formats to broaden the audience. + +## Progress + +- January started strong with +2,400, driven by "new year" energy and a well-timed piece on 2025 engineering hiring trends. +- February maintained pace at +1,900 but churn crept up slightly as the new onboarding sequence was still being A/B tested. +- March delivered +1,600, falling slightly short of the monthly target needed to close the gap. A planned collaboration fell through at the last moment. +- Ended at 58,676 -- 324 short of the 59k goal. + +## Notes + +- The onboarding sequence improvements showed early promise: 7-day retention improved from 72% to 79%. The full impact should compound over subsequent quarters. +- Missing by such a narrow margin again is a pattern. [[person-luca-rossi]] decided to set targets with a small buffer going forward to account for late-quarter slowdowns. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q2.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q2.md index 279857ba..feee1acc 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q2.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q2.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Done --- # Subscribers Target Q2 2025 Target: 66,000 subscribers by end of quarter. + +The 66k target represented the steepest quarterly climb yet, requiring over 7,300 net adds. This coincided with the [[25q2-laputa-v2]] development phase, which meant less time for promotional content. To compensate, [[person-luca-rossi]] invested in a referral program and doubled down on SEO-optimized archive pages that had started generating meaningful organic traffic. + +## Progress + +- April was the strongest month in the newsletter's history: +3,100 subscribers, powered by a referral program launch that offered exclusive content for successful referrals. +- May maintained solid growth at +2,200 despite reduced publishing cadence (biweekly instead of weekly) due to Laputa development demands. +- June closed with +2,400 as the referral program reached steady state and several archive articles started ranking on the first page of Google for competitive search terms. +- Hit 66,349 -- exceeding the target by 349. + +## Notes + +- The referral program proved to be the single most effective growth lever introduced since the podcast. Roughly 30% of new subscribers in Q2 came through referrals. +- SEO is becoming a compounding asset. The archive pages now drive roughly 800 organic subscribers per month with zero ongoing effort. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q3.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q3.md index b6eeb7d2..1f1f5168 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q3.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q3.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Open --- # Subscribers Target Q3 2025 Target: 75,000 subscribers by end of quarter. + +The 75k target is the most aggressive quarterly goal to date, requiring approximately 8,700 net new subscribers. The plan relies on the compounding effects of the referral program and SEO, supplemented by a planned podcast relaunch and a series of guest appearances on larger shows. This is the penultimate quarter for the [[2025-reach-85k-subscribers]] goal, so strong performance here is essential to keep the annual target within reach. + +## Progress + +- Quarter is currently in progress. Early indicators from July show the referral program continuing to perform well. +- Podcast relaunch is scheduled for mid-July with a new format that emphasizes shorter, more frequent episodes. +- Two guest appearances on top-50 tech podcasts are confirmed for August, which should provide significant exposure. +- SEO traffic continues to grow organically; projecting roughly 1,000 organic subscribers per month by end of quarter. + +## Notes + +- This quarter's outcome will largely determine whether the 85k annual goal is achievable. A miss here would require extraordinary Q4 performance to compensate. +- [[person-matteo-cellini]] is supporting promotional efforts this quarter, allowing [[person-luca-rossi]] to focus more on Laputa development without sacrificing growth. diff --git a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q4.md b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q4.md index f7c5a0db..d752adff 100644 --- a/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q4.md +++ b/demo-vault-v2/target/target-subscribers-25q4.md @@ -9,3 +9,17 @@ Status: Open --- # Subscribers Target Q4 2025 Target: 85,000 subscribers by end of quarter. + +The 85k target is the capstone of the [[2025-reach-85k-subscribers]] annual goal. Hitting this number would represent roughly a 63% year-over-year increase from the ~52k starting point at the beginning of 2025. The target assumes continued compounding from the referral program, SEO, and podcast channels, plus a potential boost from the public launch of [[25q1-laputa-v1]] driving brand awareness. + +## Progress + +- Quarter has not started yet. Planning is underway. +- The growth model projects needing approximately 10,000 net adds, which would be the highest single-quarter gain ever. +- Key initiatives being considered include a paid acquisition experiment (first time), a major content partnership, and leveraging the Laputa app launch for cross-promotion. +- Contingency planning includes adjusting the target downward to 80k if Q3 underperforms significantly. + +## Notes + +- This target may need revision depending on Q3 results. [[person-luca-rossi]] has committed to a mid-year review in August to assess whether 85k remains realistic. +- Even if the exact number is missed, reaching 80k+ would still represent exceptional growth and position the newsletter for a strong 2026.